Iran Sanctions 15 US Firms for Israel Ties, 'Human Rights Abuses'

A man carries a giant flag made of flags of Iran, Palestine, Syria and Hezbollah, during a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, in Tehran Feb. 11, 2016. Iran on March 26, 2017, announced sanctions against 15 U.S. companies. Reuters

Iran officials imposed sanctions on 15 U.S. companies for cooperating with Israel and for alleged human rights violations in a retaliatory reaction to a move by Washington, D.C. officials, reports state news agency IRNA on Sunday.

IRNA quoted Iran's foreign ministry, stating the U.S. companies had "flagrantly violated human rights" and cooperated with Israel in its "terrorism" against the Palestinians and the expansion of Jewish settlements.

Many of Iran's allegations, concerns and complaints are against companies they claim sold aircraft, advanced military weapons, firearms, armored vehicles, missile systems, equipment or security devices to Israeli military groups -- some of which they claim were used on Palestinian civilians.

"The American army is present in numerous regional crises, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and provides vast support to terrorist groups," said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, president of the committee, according to a state television report.

U.S. news services report it is not immediately clear if any of the companies had any dealings with Iran or whether they would be affected by Tehran's action, which IRNA representatives stated would include seizure of assets and a ban on contacts with them. Fox news reported former and current directors of the 15 U.S. companies named will not be eligible for visas in Iran, as part of the sanction. Yahoo reported Iran's decision is largely symbolic because these firms do not do business with Iran.

Iran Daily News reported the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement indicated the U.S. companies have "directly or indirectly collaborated with the Israeli regime in committing its savage crimes in occupied Palestine, thrown their weight behind the regime's terrorist acts or contributed to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories in flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334."

Iran would face tighter U.S. sanctions over ballistic missile launches and other non-nuclear activities under a bill announced on Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators, reports Reuters.

Iranian Foreign Ministry representatives stated the list of sanctioned American companies could expand to include more entities.